July 2009 - Posts
Many of you might be interested to know exactly when you will be able to get your hands on RTM, but folks, when you can have access to Windows 7 RTM entirely depends upon who you are! Who you are in the sense, whether you are ‘ Microsoft Partners(Independent Software Vendor and Independent Hardware Vendor)’ & Original Equipment Manufacturers(OEMs) or Business Customers or simply an enthusiast. Microsofties have categorized these group of people into different names and have already declared few important dates on when they would be getting the RTM code.
All the Partners & OEMs i.e ISV (Independent software vendor) and IHV (Independent hardware vendor) Partners will be able to download Windows 7 RTM from Microsoft Connect or MSDN on August 6th. Similarly, the TechNet and Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscribers will also have access through their respective TechNet or MSDN portals on this day.
Microsoft Partner Program Gold/Certified Members will be able to download Windows 7 RTM through the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) Portal on August 16th while Microsoft Action Pack Subscribers will have access downloading it starting August 23rd.
Sad but true, I do not fall under any of the categories above. But, as a Microsoft Student Partner and a technology enthusiast, I have been enjoying the Windows 7 beta release and the latest Release Candidate. Now, I have a doubt if I would be able to enjoy RTM too as for this is the final build which will be appearing in software vendors by 22nd October, 2009.
It is said, ‘Where there is will, there is a way’. Let me check out this time, if there is a way for me, since I am no less willing to test RTM as well.
23rd June, 2009. The day when I got to visit Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC) inside Singha Durbar in Kathmandu. I wasn’t alone though; with me was an enthusiastic team of Nepalese Microsoft Student Partners (MSPs) along with Country Manager, Microsoft MDP Nepal, Mr. Allen Bailochan Tuladhar and the Community Lead, Mr. Shailendra Jha. Well, let me make it the other way, the descent way! I was one among the MSPs from 32 different engineering and technical colleges of Nepal.You know or not, but unless you are a minister or a government officer and work inside, getting through the gate of Singh Durbar is something you cannot think of(security reasons). Not even showing your identity helps. But, as a Microsoft Student Partner (MSP), we were offered passes to get inside and take a tour of Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC), hats off to Allen sir for his never ending efforts. Not only that, but we had a briefing from the Director of National Data Center, Dr. Subarna Shakya about the Data center ( Integrated type data center) which was in the verge of its completion. As I told you, the Data Center is still in it’s construction phase and is now only providing the ministries with the high speed internet connectivity and webhosting services. But, apart from that, Data Center has a whole host of objectives to execute in a stipulated time, and that’s were the major challenge confronts.
It was 2:50pm when we actually reached the premises of Data Center. After the short briefing from Dr. Shakya inside the training hall, we then moved on to observing the monitoring room which was excellently equipped with CCTV Camera for the intensive monitoring purpose followed by the server room which was finely maintained with the STP(Standard Temperature and Pressure) and humidity for the proper functioning of the highly sophisticated electronic equipments that had been deployed. I feel to thank the official from Data center who guided us inside server room with the technical descriptions.
When everyone was finished with the observation process, we all the
MSPs again gathered back inside the training hall where in Mr. Allen Bailochan Tuladhar, Country envoy, Microsoft MDP Nepal, addressed the MSP meeting session with a vote of thanks note to the director of GIDC for providing us the space. During the whole meeting we discussed a lot of topics which were directly or indirectly related to Microsoft Student Partners Program.
The meeting was followed by a short refreshment, yet the informal discussion continued until we were required to evacuate the hall.
Idea pops out at any time (yes! they do), as says Allen sir. Something similar happened to me. It had been ages since I drew anything artistic (except diagrams and figures in academics) for the last time. Then, today suddenly my wit asked me to make use of the newer look of Microsoft Paint in the Windows 7 RC platform. I started to use the pencil pointer in mspaint application but wasn’t sure about anything what I was really trying to figure out of the blank white-sheet. Again, an idea popped out. I thought to make something that was related with Microsoft Student Partners. Unknowing, I started flowing in my thoughts and then finally the thoughts blended out in the form(a JPEG Image) which is right in front of your eyes. 
To add a note in support of the image, I would like to thank the whole Microsoft MDP Nepal team who helped us to grow from the stage of a caterpillar to a newer and better stage.
So, the new milestone for the Windows 7 that is, Release To Manufacturing(RTM) has been achieved by Microsoft now. Yes, Microsoft has recently officially announced that the final Windows 7 RTM build would be made available on July 13th. Microsofties from Redmond has also said that the build would be sent out to Microsoft partners during the last two weeks of this new month. The latest build made accessible is Build 7268 till now.
As, it is already very clear that Windows 7 is set for General Availability on October 22nd.